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HOUSTON (KXAN) — The day after Donald Trump won enough electoral college votes to become the next president, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, R-Texas, compared it to times when this country was forged.

“Not since the Revolution in this country have we seen people rise up for their rights like we saw last night,” Patrick told KXAN in the Houston office of his political consultant, Blakemore & Associates.

Patrick chaired Trump’s campaign in Texas, which the New York billionaire won by nine points. Patrick says he’s not looking for a place in the administration. Instead, he’s going to use his role in the transition team to feed him names of qualified Texas candidates, putting his focus in the interview on former Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Austin. But he says he’s also pushing for Texas businessmen and businesswomen, especially in the energy sector.

“Do you know how long it’s been since we’ve had a voice representing oil and gas in the White House that anybody listens to?” he asked.

Ahead of the 2017 legislative session, Patrick says the Trump administration will be a partner in his efforts to be tough on illegal immigration, building a border wall and dedicating more resources to “border security,” instead of being a constant foil to state GOP leaders.

He points to how Trump was “endorsed by the border patrol, endorsed by ICE. He’s going to let them do their job.”

Patrick did commend Sec. Clinton and President Obama for calling on their supporters to rally around President-elect Trump. “I give high marks to Hillary Clinton when she said, “We need to give him a chance,” because had she won, people against her should have given her a chance. It’s important that we rally behind our president whether you’re for that person or against that person.”

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